Course Syllabus
Contact Information
I received my Master of Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma in the spring of 1997 with studies concentrated in Information Technology and Accounting. I earned my Oklahoma Certified Public Accountant license in 1999 and have maintained my license throughout my career. In addition, I completed the Graduate Certificate in Digital Technologies program in the fall of 2021 at The University of Oklahoma. My background includes extensive industry experience in business analysis, software development, implementation, administration, financial analysis, data analysis, and business intelligence. Before I began teaching full-time, I worked in Oklahoma City as the Manager of Business Intelligence and Analysis for an organization in the private sector. My hobbies include training for triathlons, tinkering around on my old Jeep, playing golf, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Course Overview
MIS 3353 Database Management provides a strong foundation for understanding organizational information use and management. Concepts discussed are vital to anyone pursuing a career in information systems management, data analysis, or any field where understanding and use of stored data is important (e.g., most business fields).
We will cover important concepts and skills useful in the rest of your coursework as well as your future careers, including:
- The fundamentals of database use and design:
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- SQL to interact with functional databases.
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- Conceptual, logical, and physical design of databases.
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- Database implementation.
- Database implementation.
- Organizational issues involved in data management.
- Basic business cycles (revenue, expenditure, production) and the data and database structures needed to support them.
This class is not easy. You should expect to expend considerable time and effort. However, it can be fun learning the different aspects of data management. Stay up-to-date on the course material and do not hesitate to ask the instructor any questions you may have about the material as the course progresses.
Course Objectives
This class combines a variety of techniques to capture student interests from several possible angles. The readings and lectures provide a base of knowledge that students can use in other components of the course. In-class exercises provide an avenue for applying the knowledge base. Class discussions provide an opportunity for discovery. This approach only works when students complete the readings before class and then participate in the exercises and discussions.
Course Prerequisites
MIS 2113: Computer-Based Info Systems
Course Materials
Book: Essentials Plus of SQL: Extracting and Updating Data
Author: Allen, Gove, Jackson, Robert, Hansen, Gary
Publisher: MyEducator
Details Provided in Canvas
Note: If you purchased this book in a previous class, you do NOT have to purchase it again. If you have issues connecting with MyEducator, you can reach out to support@myeducator.com for assistance.
Book: TopHat
Author: TopHat
Publisher: TopHat
Details Provided in Canvas
Required Software
The course requires students to create professional-quality visualizations. To facilitate this task, students will use LucidChart: Full access to the software is available for free when you log in with your OU email.
Students will have to access SQL Server using Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio. More information will be given in class.
Grades
Performance in this course will be evaluated in the areas of class participation, quizzes, homework, module reflections, and three exams. These components will be weighted according to the table below.
| Activity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Class Participation | 2.5% |
| Roll-Call Attendance | 2.5% |
| Quizzes | 5% |
| Homework | 20% |
| Module Reflections | 10% |
| Exam I | 20% |
| Exam II | 20% |
| Final Exam | 20% |
| 100% |
Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Class Participation and Roll-Call Attendance
For the design of this class to work, students must be actively involved in the class. Active involvement consists of three components: (1) class attendance; (2) reading and thinking about the material before coming to class; and (3) sharing of and discussing thoughts and ideas. Students’ participation grades are dependent on all of these, culminating on the third item.
To receive participation (2.5%), you must do the participation exercises scheduled for each class.
To receive attendance (2.5%), you must be present in class
Please realize that, during class discussions and exercises, it is okay to be wrong! You will get a participation point whether you are correct or not. If you try to answer a question, and your answer is incorrect, there is a good chance you are not the only one who thought that way. By seeing the wrong answers and understanding why they are wrong, everyone can learn. Wrong answers on exams, of course, still carry a penalty, so it’s important to get those answers sorted out during class time.
Quizzes
To provide an incentive for students to come to class prepared, quizzes are assigned that correspond with reading assignments. These quizzes will be available via Canvas and are due by 12:00PM on the date noted in the calendar at the end of this syllabus. These quizzes are open-book and must be taken individually, with no help from other students or individuals. Each quiz may be taken twice. The two lowest quiz scores will be dropped in evaluating each student’s semester quiz grade.
Homework
Homework assignments for this course are designed to encourage students to work actively with the course material and thereby master course materials. Further, homework enables students and the instructor to recognize any points that are not yet fully understood. Students are expected to complete each of the homework problems. If, after considerable effort, you are stuck on a problem, note (on the homework) the specific difficulty you are having and move on.
Students may discuss homework problems and approaches to answering them with their classmates. However, students are expected to work independently in the actual completion of their work. For instance, if two (or more) homework answers have the same typos, it will be assumed that work was not done independently and therefore represents an honor code violation. In such cases, the instructor will take appropriate action, ranging from a reduction in grade to reporting of the violation. More importantly, it is essential that you understand the homework assignments in order to do well on the exams.
Module Reflections
The Reflection should summarize the student’s learning experience (engagement with materials, quizzes, participation, etc.) in two paragraphs with a minimum of 10 lines per paragraph. There are 3 parts to the reflection:
- Summarize the module's learning materials (readings, media, recorded lectures, and Live Session) and how they relate to the module learning objectives.
- List two topics of interest from the module's content using the following questions as guidance:
- What are topics that are most interesting to you?
- What are topics that can be utilized immediately at your work?
- What is a question that you still have about this module's learning topics?
Exams
There will be two midterm exams and one comprehensive final exam. All exams will consist of multiple-choice, short answer problems, writing SQL queries, etc. These exams are designed to assess your basic understanding of the concepts and their application. These exams are scheduled in-person. Please check Canvas for any updates. Students are required to bring their laptop to the exams.
Timeliness
To receive full credit for a written assignment, assignments must be turned in before the beginning of the class period on the day it is due. Late work will not be accepted. If you have obligations that conflict with exam or assignment due dates, you should make arrangements with the instructor as soon as possible to complete these ahead of time. Feel free to submit homework assignments early.
Missed Exams/Assignments
Make-up exams will be given only in extraordinary circumstances. If you expect to miss an exam or to be unable to meet another requirement, please discuss this with the instructor before the scheduled date.
Score/Grade Appeals
Students wishing to appeal a grade or score must submit the appeal to the instructor in writing within 48 hours of receiving the graded work. Submission of appeals must be sent via Microsoft Teams. Score changes are at the discretion of the instructor, not the TA. It is important to understand that your score may go up or down based upon a complete review of the work in question. It is usually the case that changing a few points on an assignment rarely makes a difference in the final grade.
Course Policies
Communication
Please call me Professor or Professor James. When you send an e-mail to me, please be sure to include the course number or some course identifier in the Subject line. Additionally, please identify yourself in the text of your e-mail, otherwise, I may not figure out who you are just by your email address alone. Please note that if your question is relevant to the class, I will forward your email with my response to the class – so be sure to proofread your email and use good email etiquette because it may be seen by your classmates. It is the student's responsibility to receive/check incoming mail in a timely fashion (e.g., not regularly checking your email, having a “full mailbox” condition, etc.).
You can expect a response to emails sent Monday-Friday within 24 hours. Emails sent over the weekend will receive a response within 48 hours. We will use Microsoft Teams for course communication. Please send a message through Teams direct messaging.
NOTE: When a student has a question or needs to inform the instructor of an important event, you must contact me via Microsoft Teams.
Feedback
Assignment feedback will typically be posted within one week of the assignment deadline.
Academic Integrity for Generative Artificial Intelligence Programs
I expect you to use AI (ChatGPT, Copilot, etc.) to help you get started on course assignments. I am happy to meet with you if you need help with the assignment or need help with how to use ChatGPT, Copilot, etc..
However, be aware of the limits of ChatGPT, Copilot, etc.:
- If you provide minimum effort prompts, you will get low-quality results. You will need to refine your prompts in order to get good outcomes. This will take work.
- Don't trust anything it says. If it gives you a number or fact, assume it is wrong unless you either know the answer or can check in with another source. You will be responsible for any errors or omissions provided by the tool.
- AI is a tool, and you need to acknowledge using it. Please include a paragraph here explaining your interaction with ChatGPT, Copilot, etc., and what prompts you used to get the results.
Using AI programs and not disclosing where and how that content is used is considered academic dishonesty and will be considered a violation of academic integrity. If the usage of such programs is found without disclosure, students will receive a “0” for the grade and will be reported to OU’s Integrity Council. Students unsure about using AI tools in coursework should speak directly to their instructor or seek guidance from the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
University Policies
Mental Health Support Services
Support is available for any student experiencing mental health issues that are impacting their academic success. Students can either been seen at the University Counseling Center (UCC) located on the second floor of Goddard Health Center or receive 24/7/365 crisis support from a licensed mental health provider through TELUS Health. To schedule an appointment or receive more information about mental health resources at OU please call the UCC at 405-325-2911 or visit University Counseling Center. The UCC is located at 620 Elm Ave., Room 201, Norman, OK 73019.
Title IX Resources and Reporting Requirement
The University of Oklahoma faculty are committed to creating a safe learning environment for all members of our community, free from gender and sex-based discrimination, including sexual harassment, domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, in accordance with Title IX. There are resources available to those impacted, including: speaking with someone confidentially about your options, medical attention, counseling, reporting, academic support, and safety plans. If you have (or someone you know has) experienced any form of sex or gender-based discrimination or violence and wish to speak with someone confidentially, please contact OU Advocates (available 24/7 at 405-615-0013) or University Counseling Center (M-F 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 405-325-2911)
Because the University of Oklahoma is committed to the safety of you and other students, and because of our Title IX obligations, I, as well as other faculty, Graduate Assistants, and Teaching Assistants, are mandatory reporters. This means that we are obligated to report gender-based violence that has been disclosed to us to the Institutional Equity Office. This means that we are obligated to report gender-based violence that has been disclosed to us to the Institutional Equity Office. This includes disclosures that occur in: class discussion, writing assignments, discussion boards, emails and during Student/Office Hours. You may also choose to report directly to the Institutional Equity Office. After a report is filed, the Title IX Coordinator will reach out to provide resources, support, and information and the reported information will remain private. For more information regarding the University’s Title IX Grievance procedures, reporting, or support measures, please visit Institutional Equity Office at 405-325-3546.
Reasonable Accommodation Policy
The University of Oklahoma (OU) is committed to the goal of achieving equal educational opportunity and full educational participation for students with disabilities. If you have already established reasonable accommodations with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), please submit your semester accommodation request through the ADRC as soon as possible and contact me privately, so that we have adequate time to arrange your approved academic accommodations.
If you have not yet established services through ADRC, but have a documented disability and require accommodations, please complete ADRC’s pre-registration form to begin the registration process. ADRC facilitates the interactive process that establishes reasonable accommodations for students at OU. For more information on ADRC registration procedures, please review their Register with the ADRC web page. You may also contact them at (405)325-3852 or adrc@ou.edu, or visit www.ou.edu/adrc for more information.
Note: disabilities may include, but are not limited to, mental health, chronic health, physical, vision, hearing, learning and attention disabilities, pregnancy-related. ADRC can also support students experiencing temporary medical conditions.
Religious Observance
It is the policy of the University to excuse the absences of students that result from religious observances and to reschedule examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays, without penalty. [See Faculty Handbook 3.15.2]
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center at 405/325-3852 and/or the Institutional Equity Office at 405/325-3546 as soon as possible. Also, see the Institutional Equity Office FAQ on Pregnant and Parenting Students’ Rights for answers to commonly asked questions.
Final Exam Preparation Period
Pre-finals week will be defined as the seven calendar days before the first day of finals. Faculty may cover new course material throughout this week. For specific provisions of the policy please refer to OU’s Final Exam Preparation Period policy.
Emergency Protocol
During an emergency, there are official university procedures that will maximize your safety.
Severe Weather: If you receive an OU Alert to seek refuge or hear a tornado siren that signals severe weather.
- Look for severe weather refuge location maps located inside most OU buildings near the entrances.
- Seek refuge inside a building. Do not leave one building to seek shelter in another building that you deem safer. If outside, get into the nearest building.
- Go to the building’s severe weather refuge location. If you do not know where that is, go to the lowest level possible and seek refuge in an innermost room. Avoid outside doors and windows.
- Get in, Get Down, Cover Up
- Wait for official notice to resume normal activities.
Additional Weather Safety Information is available through the Department of Campus Safety.
The University of Oklahoma Active Threat Guidance
The University of Oklahoma embraces a Run, Hide, Fight strategy for active threats on campus. This strategy is well known, widely accepted, and proven to save lives. To receive emergency campus alerts, be sure to update your contact information and preferences in the account settings section at one.ou.edu.
RUN: Running away from the threat is usually the best option. If it is safe to run, run as far away from the threat as possible. Call 911 when you are in a safe location and let them know from which OU campus you’re calling from and location of active threat.
HIDE: If running is not practical, the next best option is to hide. Lock and barricade all doors; turn of all lights; turn down your phone’s volume; search for improvised weapons; hide behind solid objects and walls; and hide yourself completely and stay quiet. Remain in place until law enforcement arrives. Be patient and remain hidden.
FIGHT: If you are unable to run or hide, the last best option is to fight. Have one or more improvised weapons with you and be prepared to attack. Attack them when they are least expecting it and hit them where it hurts most: the face (specifically eyes, nose, and ears), the throat, the diaphragm (solar plexus), and the groin.
Please save OUPD’s contact information in your phone.
NORMAN campus: For non-emergencies call (405) 325-1717. For emergencies call (405) 325-1911 or dial 911.
TULSA campus: For non-emergencies call (918) 660-3900. For emergencies call (918) 660-3333 or dial 911.
Fire Alarm/General Emergency
If you receive an OU Alert that there is danger inside or near the building, or the fire alarm inside the building activates:
- LEAVE the building. Do not use the elevators.
- KNOW at least two building exits
- ASSIST those that may need help
- PROCEED to the emergency assembly area
- ONCE safely outside, NOTIFY first responders of anyone that may still be inside building due to mobility issues.
- WAIT for official notice before attempting to re-enter the building.